The Mishnah (Idiyos 2:10) states, "[Reb Akiva] said: Five things are for twelve months: (1) The mabul (in Noach's generation) was for twelve months. (2) Iyov suffered for twelve months. (3) The ten plagues endured twelve months. (4) The punishment in the future for Gog and Magog will be for twelve months. (5) The resha'im are punished in Gehinom for twelve months... Reb Yochanan ben Nuri disagrees with the fifth statement. He says ועד הפסח מן העצרת, the resha'im are punished in Gehinom from Pesach until Shavuos..."
There are different explanations for the final words of this Mishnah. The Chidushei HaRim zt’l quotes the Shibolei HaLeket (and other commentaries) who say that העצרת עד הפסח מן is literal. Gehinom isn’t always active. There are forty-nine days of sefirah – between Pesach and Shavuos — when Gehinom is active and the resha’im are punished.
The purpose of Gehinom isn’t to punish but rather to purify. The Chidushei HaRim teaches that just as in heaven, the purification term takes place between Pesach and Shavuos, so too, we purify ourselves in these weeks. If people take advantage of this time, they won't need the purification in Gehinom.
Each mitzvah has its own special segulah. The segulah of sefiras ha'omer is, as we say in the tefillah for sefiras ha’omer, נפשותינו את לתקן העליונה בקדשתך ולקדשינו ולטהרינו ופגם סיג מכל ורוחותינו סלה אמן, "To rectify our neshamos from all blemishes; to purify and to sanctify us..." Counting the omer is a fairly simple mitzvah. It's comprised of a brachah, a daily count, and a prayer, הרחמן, for the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash. Some add a few more paragraphs. Let us remember that this “simple” mitzvah purifies us.
The Or HaChaim explains the pasuk (stated in this week's parashah, 23:15), לכם וספרתם, to be derived from the word ספיר, which is a sapphire stone. He writes, "Chazal say that the neshamos of Bnei Yisrael are like the luchos... [which] were made from sapphire stone. [Similarly, every Yid's neshamah shines like a sapphire stone]. But due to sin, the neshamos become dirty and they lose their luster.... Therefore, it says, לכם וספרתם [which hints to counting and to sapphire stone, because] by counting the omer their neshamos will shine again like sapphire stones."
Counting the Omer is also a preventive remedy. The rishonim say that the yetzer hara becomes stronger in the summer months, when the sun shines brightly and the world becomes warmer. We count the omer at the beginning of the summer as a remedy that helps us overcome the yetzer hara. (This is also the reason we read Pirkei Avos at this time of the year.)
It can be compared to a child who is vaccinated shortly after birth so he won't become ill. Similarly, at the beginning of the summer, HaKadosh Baruch Hu gives us Sefiras Ha'Omer to strengthen us so we won't become ill with sin.
Mashal: There is a mashal of a person who did a favor for the king, so the king rewarded him with access to the king's treasury with a large bag for an hour, and he had permission to take out anything he wanted. A date and an hour were chosen when the visit would take place. The king was afraid he might take out too many precious items from his treasury, so he commanded his servant to investigate this person's hobbies and interests. The servant reported on the genre of music he appreciates and the foods he enjoys most. The king arranged that musicians should play his favorite music outside the treasury, and a lavish food court was erected, serving his favorite dishes. On his way into the treasury, he was distracted by the sweet music and luscious food. He stopped to listen to the music and eat the food and lost track of the minutes flying by. When he finally entered the treasury, he had only a few moments left to grasp a few precious items.
The nimshal is that a special week is approaching, when the gates of heaven are open. The wise won't allow themselves to be sidetracked. Now is the time to focus on Torah and tefillah. Now, it is the time for growth and salvation. Now, it is the time to grab as much goodness as possible.
